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David's Essays

Making Presidents: Chapter 2 (06/03/08)

David attends two very different Democratic campaign rallies in the heart of primary season. The experience leaves him asking, "Will the 'aura of popularity' that brings people to a campaign rally get them in the voting booth?"

Making Presidents: Chapter 1 (06/03/08)

When the Republican National Convention rolls into town, David hopes Minnesotans subvert the routine — but not for any partisan reasons.

After Hours: Extra Lahammer (05/27/08)

In an After Hours special installment, David talks to two generations of capitol reporters — Mary and her father, Geno Lahammer, who covered the Minnesota legislature for 24 years. They compare notes about how the politics and stories have changed.

After Hours: Time Warp (05/20/08)

David employs our Time Warp® technology to squeeze the highlights of the last weekend of Session 2008 — and the coinciding Sesquicentennial weekend festivities — into a single, short clip.

After Hours: Campus Tour (05/13/08)

Mary and David venture outside for a look at the buildings that surround the Capitol mall.

After Hours: Military Training (05/05/08)

David interviews a member of this year's legislative intern program and finds out how well Matthew's army tours prepared him for working at the Capitol.

After Hours: No Resting Allowed (04/30/08)

Go behind-the-scenes on the Almanac: At the Capitol set and watch David grill Mary about what life is like as a political reporter.

After Hours: Plugged In (04/22/08)

If you walk around the Capitol during the session, you might not see many reporters in the House or Senate galleries. So where, exactly, are they getting their news?

After Hours: Citizen Lobbyist (04/16/08)

David interviews Rich Newmiester, a citizen lobbyist who has spent 30 years advocating for privacy and civil liberties. The downside to his job? It's an unpaid position. The upside? He's beholden to no boards, organizations, or other groups.

After Hours: Lobbyists and Luck (04/08/08)

What does it take to be a successful lobbyist? As Mary explains, "smarts, knowing your industry inside out ... and the brass equivalent of a rabbit's foot found in the Capitol rotunda."